Spurned By Negative Media Attention, Ashcroft Now Keeping His Mouth Shut On Waterboarding
Spurned By Negative Media Attention, Ashcroft Now Keeping His Mouth Shut On Waterboarding
As ThinkProgress has repeatedly highlighted, former attorney general John Ashcroft likes to dismiss the seriousness of the Bush administration’s harsh interrogation techniques when he’s out of Washington and the public glare.
For example, speaking at the University of Colorado in November 2007, Ashcroft caused an uproar when he said Guantanamo Bay was a “good place” for detainees. He also claimed that he would be willing to be waterboarded. More recently, on April 21, Ashcroft joked about waterboarding to an audience at St. John’s University:
Going to a high school dance, having to listen to loud music, to me that’s torture. I was on the Daily Show once. I was interviewed by Jon Stewart. That was torture.
Spurned by all the negative media attention, Ashcroft is now keeping his mouth shut. At an event yesterday at Denison University in Ohio, Ashcroft refused to discuss waterboarding and made only vague statements about torture, tempering his usually aggressive support for Bush’s policies:
Questioned by Green and another student about approving the use of “waterboarding” by the CIA for interrogation of prisoners, Ashcroft, a former Missouri U.S. senator, said, “I haven’t made a statement about waterboarding. I didn’t make one at Knox College (where he spoke last week) and I’m not going to make it here.” […]
On torture, Ashcroft said, “Torture, for legal purposes, is what Congress says it is. Within the law there are times when there will be different interrogation techniques used. Various interrogation techniques make sense. Torture is not legal in the United States, as defined by Congress.
Ashcroft now faces a subpoena threat from House Judiciary Committee chairman John Conyers (D-MI) to testify about his role in the administration’s approval of torture.
Once student also asked Ashcroft how he sleeps at night, in light of some of the policies he has supported. “I sleep at night because I believe the protection of American liberty is the number one job we have,” replied Ashcroft.
Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date
63 Responses to “Spurned By Negative Media Attention, Ashcroft Now Keeping His Mouth Shut On Waterboarding”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Register
RSSLogin
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog RollAbout Think ProgressContact Us
Donate
They pay this guy?
April 29th, 2008 at 4:08 pmProtecting liberty by sacrificing it??
yeah, that makes sense…..
April 29th, 2008 at 4:09 pmI sleep at night because I believe the protection of American liberty is the number one job we have,” replied Ashcroft.
I sleep at night knowing I gave my all as a soldier, citizen and supporter to my Country. None of which included TORTURE
April 29th, 2008 at 4:12 pmi think the remarkable thing about this is that it’s college students who are challenging these scumbags — ashcroft, feith, gonzalez — and not anyone from the highly paid village.
April 29th, 2008 at 4:15 pmAwww, come on, Ashie! Open your mouth - and we’ll pour a coupla gallons of water in it!!
April 29th, 2008 at 4:16 pmCut off any neocon presently in our government and profiting from our government. Once that’s done, TP can move onto covering other problems. After seven years, I’m tired.
April 29th, 2008 at 4:20 pmWaterboard the sucker. He’s asking for it. Listening to you sing—now that’s torture!
April 29th, 2008 at 4:22 pmA high school dance is torture? I thought they were great fun. Sounds like he had an unhappy childhood. Could explain a lot.
Remember, this guy was afraid of calico cats because they were a sign of the devil!
Going to a high school dance, having to listen to loud music, to me that’s torture. I was on the Daily Show once. I was interviewed by Jon Stewart. That was torture.
Hey, it’s really nice that Ashcroft can joke about something like torture. When he’s in prison, loud music should be piped into his cell — forever.
April 29th, 2008 at 4:22 pmHey Zooey, you ever heard him sing “Let the Eagle Soar”?
April 29th, 2008 at 4:26 pmTorture, for legal purposes, is what Congress says it is.
What utter nonsense. Torture has been defined by the U.N, the Geneva Conventions, and international law. The government of the United States has chosen to reinterpret that definition to suit it’s own purposes.
When faced with the realization that we had hundreds (thousands?) of people in illegal detention, Bushco decided to create “terrorists” through torture. And yes the simple act of holding people indefinitely, without charge or hope of acquittal, is torture.
Regardless of the actions of the next administration this will go down in history among the darkest chapters of American government. One can only hope the World will forgive the atrocities committed by Bushco in our names. They have made criminals of us all.
April 29th, 2008 at 4:31 pmIt takes a Village to raise an Idiot.
But,
It only takes one Idiot to ruin the Village.
Thanks, W
April 29th, 2008 at 4:32 pmNo, don’t remind me! It will be stuck in my head the rest of the day!
Lalalalalalalalaaaaa….
April 29th, 2008 at 4:33 pmThis question was asked by Thom Hartmann today:
In reference to Obama’s comment that he, Obama, would seek prosecution in his administration for any criminal activity found in the previous administration,
Why isn’t Hillary also also making this statement?
April 29th, 2008 at 4:38 pmKeith Says:
Hey Zooey, you ever heard him sing “Let the Eagle Soar”?
Now that’s torture!
April 29th, 2008 at 4:39 pmGet straight, John, the Bush War Criminal gang of thugs simply LIES about the use of torture…nothing wrong with that….right?
April 29th, 2008 at 4:39 pmI remember the right side spitting blood when Bill Clinton was parsing the meaning of “is”. All over a private encounter that is none of our business. Now we are discussing the legalistic meanings of the word “torture”.
Hmmm, I’m not sure, but one of these is vastly more important then the other. Now which one is it?
April 29th, 2008 at 4:39 pmKeith, I think you just put Zooey over the edge…
April 29th, 2008 at 4:40 pmStratRat Says:
Hmmm, I’m not sure, but one of these is vastly more important then the other. Now which one is it?
Well, if you’ve spent most of your life “wishing” you had the pleasures and fulfilling life of others, you’d be more concerned about the oral gratification of consenting adults than the morals of practically drowning a supposed enemy.
April 29th, 2008 at 4:45 pmOf course, logical and important concerns where never the fore front for the Bush administration and it’s lemmings.
Zimzone Says:
Keith, I think you just put Zooey over the edge…
April 29th, 2008 at 4:40 pm
To be honest, it didn’t take much today…
April 29th, 2008 at 4:46 pmIt is not adverse media attention that has shut the mouth of Ashcroft. It is the culmination of the voices of many young college students who stand up and speak truth to power. The media are collectively nothing more than whores who on bended knee provide a BJ to administration figure requesting one. Self evident truths are treated as some sort of magical mystery beyond the ken of the ordinary person or the media
April 29th, 2008 at 4:48 pmHey Zooey,
April 29th, 2008 at 4:48 pmLet the eagle soar,
Like she’s never soared before.
From rocky coast to golden shore,
Let the mighty eagle soar.
Soar with healing in her wings,
As the land beneath her sings:
‘Only God, no other kings.’
Let the mighty eagle soar.
Troll Moniker #2
Enjoy the feeling of getting booted out of here twice in a day.
April 29th, 2008 at 4:48 pmleftright Says:
The American military uses waterboarding as part of its training! Why doesn’t Toilet Paper get upset about that?
What a stupid thing to say. What’s your point?
April 29th, 2008 at 4:50 pmAshcroft is just another one of the WAR CRIMINALS who needs to be JAILED until he DROPS DEAD and joins Bush and his MASTER Satan.
And TRAITOR Ronnie Reagan, now DEAD and BURNING!
April 29th, 2008 at 4:50 pmleftright Says:
The American military uses waterboarding as part of its training! Why doesn’t Toilet Paper get upset about that?
April 29th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
I bet if you put on your super-duper thinking cap, you might just figure it out.
Maybe not…
April 29th, 2008 at 4:51 pmthis vegetable was attorney general to a criminal. but it wasn’t his fault. he claims now he has always been a vegetable.
April 29th, 2008 at 4:53 pmMan, it looks as if we’ll have to brace ourselves once Obama is officially the nominee…’leftright’ has a link making fun of Obama’s physical appearance. No, really, that’s all the
troll has got.
The right can’t openly make fun of his skin color, so they’re resorting to other physical features. With no good platform, no ethics, a string of failures, no potential of winning, what else could they do?
April 29th, 2008 at 4:56 pmKeith,
Two can play at that game. Good luck getting this one out of your brain:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ztZ7WFo3nw
:-D
April 29th, 2008 at 4:56 pmEverybody has a right to be ignorant leftreich but you abuse the privilege.
April 29th, 2008 at 4:56 pmZimzone Says:
Keith, I think you just put Zooey over the edge…
How can you tell?
Just kidding Zooey.
April 29th, 2008 at 4:56 pmoldtree Says:
this vegetable was attorney general to a criminal. but it wasn’t his fault. he claims now he has always been a vegetable.
That’s being rather unkind to vegetables, isn’t it?
April 29th, 2008 at 4:57 pmWhat’s next, leftright, are you going to make fun of deformed people on JuicyCampus and MySpace?
April 29th, 2008 at 4:59 pmThe right can’t openly make fun of his skin color, so they’re resorting to other physical features. With no good platform, no ethics, a string of failures, no potential of winning, what else could they do?
The right side is basically a criminal enterprise. Not much different between them and the mafia - well, at least an incompetent mafia. Their strategy of world domination is finished. They cannot win an invasion they started (why on earth would you invade another country not knowing if you could pull it off?). They are the dimwitted bullies we all had (or have) to deal with.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:01 pmI’d shor love to see that in print. Got a cite for that?
April 29th, 2008 at 5:01 pmleftright Says:
What about pepper spray, tasers, and jail cells? That’s ok?
April 29th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Hey, whatever gets you turned on…
April 29th, 2008 at 5:03 pm“I sleep at night because I believe the protection of American liberty is the number one job we have,” replied Ashcroft.
He OBVIOUSLY doesn’t even know the meaning of “American liberty.”
Freaking nutcase.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:11 pmWhile I couldn’t care less about what a troll thinks, and I can’t speak for TP here’s my take, on the U.S. military’s use of waterboarding in training, for the benefit of you humans out there.
The U.S. military is an all volunteer service. Those few who are subjected to that training have further volunteered for the jobs which require it. They KNOW it’s done under controlled conditions. They KNOW it’s training. They KNOW it’s going to end. And they KNOW they won’t be summarily executed by interrogators once they prove “unbreakable”, or, provide information. Furthermore, U.S. military personnel know they won’t be consigned to a cell and left to rot when the waterboarding is over. Under these conditions waterboarding is no longer torture. It’s more like an unpleasant medical procedure.
The foreign nationals we hold don’t have the benefit of those assurances. The abuse of prisoners is not limited to waterboarding. And ANY abuse of prisoners is a violation of international law. It’s really that simple.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:12 pmThe foreign nationals we hold don’t have the benefit of those assurances. The abuse of prisoners is not limited to waterboarding. And ANY abuse of prisoners is a violation of international law. It’s really that simple.
I don’t believe the Preznit thinks this way. After all, he is a very - very - simple man, why doesn’t he get it?
April 29th, 2008 at 5:19 pmOdd I never noticed before..While he has a smile on his face Ashcroft has dead eye’s just like Rice…Evil is easy for me to see in some eye’s….Blessings
April 29th, 2008 at 5:23 pmHaving to sit in on his early morning Bible-reading sessions at DoJ might have been torture, too, but I think he’s clueless if he thinks hard rock and waterboarding might have been comparable.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:25 pmleftright Says:
The American military uses waterboarding as part of its training! Why doesn’t Toilet Paper get upset about that?
Its part of the SERE (Survival,Evasion,Resistance,Escape) training. The POW camp simulation part is where you get waterboarded, locked in a tiny cage,etc. It helps soldiers understand what you may go through if captured by an enemy that thinks the Geneva Convention is “quaint”.
I went through it, trollsh!t.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:28 pmSign up and get yourself trained and go help the troops.
What are you waiting for?
StratRat Says:
I don’t believe the Preznit thinks this way. After all, he is a very - very - simple man, why doesn’t he get it?
April 29th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
The way I would phrase it is: Though a moron the Chimperror is, like any sociopath, a complex mix of contradictions.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:29 pm#41…LOL…Did I touch a nerve, are your eye’s the same.? Your not suposto be out untill after dark…I do not follow the will of black hearted tiny troll’s..Be gone.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:29 pmSomebody’s mama is gonna be a little upset with their ambidextrous spawn’s lack of manners
April 29th, 2008 at 5:30 pmraynman Says:
Protecting liberty by sacrificing it??
Sorta like f**king for virginity.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:30 pmWayne Says:
Sign up and get yourself trained and go help the troops.
What are you waiting for?
April 29th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Because, home “schooling” doesn’t follow an approved curriculum, Mommy never taught civic duty and responsibility. Or science. Or ethics. Or critical thinking. Or…
April 29th, 2008 at 5:36 pmpete Says:
Because, home “schooling” doesn’t follow an approved curriculum, Mommy never taught civic duty and responsibility. Or science. Or ethics. Or critical thinking. Or…
Or maybe too much labwork during the study of incest.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:38 pmSay TP can we have a FRESH batch of troll’s please, these are so last fall and stale..Thank’s in advance and Blessings
April 29th, 2008 at 5:39 pmAn excellent report by Robert Parry on Obama’s comments regarding prosecution of the Bush regime’s crimes is presented at Consortium News.
April 29th, 2008 at 5:40 pm‘History will not judge us kindly’! Of course… WAR CRIMINAL!
April 29th, 2008 at 5:44 pm#50
We have to ask the Pentagon to infiltrate new trolls…
April 29th, 2008 at 5:45 pmWhat wrong leftreich? Did mommy make you put down your joystick?
April 29th, 2008 at 5:47 pmHey #1, how can you make CRAP “Fresh”?
April 29th, 2008 at 5:50 pmShayne get’s the post award..LOL..Blessings
April 29th, 2008 at 5:51 pmwe can dance if we want to
April 29th, 2008 at 6:21 pmWe can leave your friends behind
Cause your friends dont dance
And if they dont dance
Well they’re no friends of mine
And another sock-puppet bites the dust. One would think, eventually, they would run out of free email accounts.
April 29th, 2008 at 6:26 pmOn torture, Ashcroft said, “Torture, for legal purposes, is what Congress says it is. Within the law there are times when there will be different interrogation techniques used. Various interrogation techniques make sense. Torture is not legal in the United States, as defined by Congress.
The problem, Johnny, is that the Executive branch was the one deciding what was and what wasn’t torture, not the Congress. lso, I believe if you read the law more carefully, torture is not permissible by anyone acting under the authority of the United States government. It does not matter if they are in the US or not at the time.
April 29th, 2008 at 6:50 pm“… as defined by Congress.”
Congress? How about the US Constitution? I guess he’s never heard of the eighth amendment. Despite what Justice Scalia says, torture is cruel and unusual and punishment.
April 29th, 2008 at 8:06 pmWayne A. Schneider Says:
The problem, Johnny, is that the Executive branch was the one deciding what was and what wasn’t torture, not the Congress. lso, I believe if you read the law more carefully, torture is not permissible by anyone acting under the authority of the United States government. It does not matter if they are in the US or not at the time.
Correct.=)
US Code TITLE 18 PART I CHAPTER 113C 2340A. Torture
(b) Jurisdiction.— There is jurisdiction over the activity prohibited in subsection (a) if—
April 29th, 2008 at 8:07 pm(1) the alleged offender is a national of the United States; or
(2) the alleged offender is present in the United States, irrespective of the nationality of the victim or alleged offender.
# 10 Pete
Don’t worry Pete… people around the globe is aware that it is your government and its military industry and oil corporation who are the criminals in this dark chapter of your history. Not the American people. If the American people were to be educated on what your government has been doing since after WWII, they would not agree with them! Because, people are people, no matter where! People like peace not war, people hate Torture no matter where, and people hate FACISM. One of your great historian is Howard Zinn, who wrote the History of the United States from the people’s point of view. We all felt so sorry when 9/11 happened. we grew up we american music and TV… ‘Bewitched’, Flinstones, jetsons, lost in space, etc… it is not the poeple. It is the government and the ellite… It was with horror that we saw what happened in New Orleans… it was with horror we saw the inside job of 9/11 take place… it was with horror that we saw the stolen elections of 2000… We are hoping for justice for scooter libby and all the neocons responsible for destroying what the USA could be… don’t worry! no one is blaming the people of the United States.
April 29th, 2008 at 8:59 pm.
American Liberty has always meant the ability to live in a Nation governed by a system that is NOT unilaterally oppressive to it’s own means, for specious purposes or ill will to all the People; A land where tyranny is NOT the modus operandi and status quo; Where basic human rights are honored and respected; And above all, operates at the will of, by and for the People and their future. American Liberty can be defined by the granted Rights of We the People of America; The Bill OF Rights.
Well, according to my dictionary, definitions 1,2,3, or 5 aren’t what John ASScroft is attempting to defend when he talks about “American Liberty”. It’s more like he thinks it is definition number 4:
R E M E M B E R:
THEY(sic) HATE US FOR OUR FREEDOMS…
And so THEY(sic) attempt to take great liberties at justifying the merits to undermining those basic American Freedoms.
.
April 30th, 2008 at 1:50 am“I sleep at night because I believe the protection of American liberty is the number one job we have,” replied Ashcroft.
I (state your name) do solemnly swear to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America from all enemies, foreign and domestic.
Hey bozo, do you think, just maybe, that your number one job is the one that you swore to do (with your hand on a Bible, no less) when you ascended to your government position? I’m really getting sick and tired of these moronic criminals telling us that their primary responsibility is to protect our liberty or, even worse, our safety when each and every one of them took the same Oath to protect and defend the Constitution. It’s time for these criminals to be brought to justice swiftly, one and all! I think we should start making citizen’s arrests of the low-hanging fruit (those who are no longer in “public service”) beginning with Karl Rove, John Ashcroft, and Abu Gonzalez.
April 30th, 2008 at 2:53 amAshcroft, you dick, you aren’t protecting American liberty by trashing the very things that American liberty stands for. Torture is wrong…PERIOD.
April 30th, 2008 at 2:04 pm